Yes, Ethan Hawke is the very definition of “doucheface.” But OMG, I would hit it. I always say that and I always get yelled at for it. But I am unashamed. Anyway, Ethan is promoting his new Richard Linklater film, Boyhood, which is getting really, really good reviews. To promote the film, Ethan did my favorite Us Weekly feature, “25 Things.” Ethan’s 25 Things are funny/interesting/infuriating, not least of which is that he self-identifies as a feminist (yet he’ll give interviews about how much he hates monogamy and fidelity).

1. I sometimes wear a goatee because I can’t grow a full beard.
2. I try to never be late.
3. Sometimes I am late.
4. My first kiss was right after the slow skate at a roller rink in Hamilton, New Jersey.
5. One of my favorite costars remains a half-breed wolf I met on the White Fang set in Alaska.
6. I have three daughters [Maya, 16, Clementine, 6, and Indiana, 3], all born in July.
7. I have a dog named Nina, after Nina Simone, and a cat named Rascal, after the book Rascal by Sterling North.
8. I am a feminist.
9. I hate vacations.
10. Unless my wife hides all the candy and sweets in our house, I will eat them all.
11. I have lived in New York City for 25 years.
12. I am 43 years old and have been in 43 films.
13. I love Mexican food.
14. I won High Times magazine’s Best Actor Bong for my performance in Richard Linklater’s Tape.
15. My son [Levon, 12] can beat me at table tennis, but I can beat him in basketball. (I’m still taller.)
16. My favorite thing to do is go to the movies. I could, I’d see three films in a day.
17. My mother [Leslie] founded and runs a non-profit in Romania for educational rights for the poor.
18. I have published two novels, Ash Wednesday and The Hottest State.
19. My stepbrother [Patrick Powers] is a member of the Green Berets.
20. I’ve never had a cavity.
21. I have a motorcycle license but no motorcycle (four kids, remember).
22. My wife [Ryan] says I’m the best lover in the world.
23. My mother says I’m really smart.
24. My kids say I’m the world’s best dad.
25. My wife, my mother, and my kids are the smartest people I know.

His wife says he’s the best lover in the world? Your move, Clive Owen! Gah. Is it wrong that I think Ethan probably is really good in bed? It’s always the weird ones. They surprise you. I like that he admits that he can’t grow a full beard. We know, dude. But if you’re going to wear a goatee, could you at least groom it a little? Thanks.

As for Ethan self-identifying as feminist… I have my doubts about just how “feminist” he is in real life, but I always applaud any man who realizes the important of self-identifying as such and being an ally to women’s rights. Especially for a father of three girls (all born in July, that’s so random).

And after he publicly criticized the state of her ladybits post partum? Sorry, not only does he look like an aging meth dealer with sun damage, he IS sleazy. He looks like he says, “Would you like to see my etchings?”

He sounds like a twit. But I can’t deny he does good work. I like these real-time thingies and I like the look of Boyhood. Michael Winterbottom did a marvellous job with something similar – Everyday, with John Simm and Shirley Henderson, about a guy’s prison sentence and how it affected the family.

It’s fantastic, I saw it on Sunday long but doesn’t feel like almost 3 hours. Made me sort of sad the process of growing up and getting old. I want time to stand still for my 13 y/o (: both he and Patricia Arquette are very good as well

I recall Miss Eyre saying it grew on her and it grew on me too. I got so into it that I missed a lot from sheer enthusiasm – was also spending time explaining stuff to Sixlet Major – so I think I am going to watch it all again to catch everything.

SWEENEY TODD FOR SEASON 2!

But mostly, I take back the moaning about the art direction and the like. That fight in the theatre in the final episode was just so good. Rory Kinnear rocked the house, too.

Yay! I’m glad you liked it. I really enjoyed it, and thought that it just worked out a brilliant balance between cable trash and legitimate costume drama. The cast was SUCH a huge part of that. I though Whichever Treadaway was absolutely excellent in it. His role was by far the least flashy, yet he was mesmerizing, and really progressed in subtle and unexpected ways. Even Josh Hartnett was endurable. And I’m excited for some hot Helen McCrory/Prince Barin action next season, too.

I think Curious Incident was the other one, wasn’t it? NT Live will probably stream it on encore. On a similar note, I hear that Skylight is incredible. I’m reading Joe Penhall’s Blue/Orange today, and am coming to the conclusion that literature is infinitely better if one hears Bill Nighy’s voice when one reads.

Those last few items were clearly tongue in cheek, so I’m not going put on my Cardigan of Outrage.

And I don’t see feminism and infidelity as mutually exclusive, personally. My feminism is more about empowerment and equality than protecting my feelings. As long as the infidelity isn’t involving sexually harassing less powerful people, why would feminism care about that?

I also don’t think that being feminist and monogamous are mutually exclusive. Just ask the numbers of women who identify as feminists and are either 1) polygamous or 2) are unfaithful to their partners…

@Renee – do you mean polyamorous? Polygamy is the very definition of anti-feminism.

I agree with the opinion that feminists are just as likely to be unfaithful and/or have difficulty with monogamy. Unless Ethan somehow implied that it’s ok for men but not women – I don’t see a conflict in his views.

Yes, as much as I disagree with with infidelity (if you’re unhappy, make it better or leave) I think you can believe in equal rights and opportunities for women and still be bad at relationships. That goes for both sexes. You wouldn’t say a woman who cheated was against men’s rights.

@GoodNamesAllTakenfromthenaturalblondewithhighlights, (*WHEW!)
That’s perfect, that will outrage someone, somewhere, and so the circle of outrage will be perpetuated and never ending. We could heat entire nations on the energy!

Exactly my reaction. They aren’t mutually exclusive. Feminism is a socio-political ideology, seeking equality of genders with a focus on the existing structural disenfranchisement of women. Fidelity is a morality issue, and morality is subjective.

From a feminist point of view it mainly becomes problematic when the guy believes that men should be allowed to sleep around because it’s in their genes while their girlfriends are expected to be monogamous.

Just be upfront about it and set the same rules for both genders.

The Problem with Ethan seems to be that he doesn’t handle it like that though. Admitting to cheating on Uma and everything.

Calling everybody who does believe in Monogamy and Fidelity Childish doesn’t help either.

I dunno. I find it patronizing when men call themselves feminists. I have plenty of men in my life who regard women as fellow humans without having to be applauded for it. I would be sad for any man whose wife didn’t call him her best lover, though. And vice versa.

I like that he called himself a feminist. He also made a point to mention the great work his mother does. He is surrounded by women, he better be a feminist!

I think it is weird how it has become the latest thing to ask actresses if they are feminists. I’m not a feminist, I am a feminist, I feel feminism has no meaning anymore, la la la. When did this start?

So if he says I am a feminist I am okay with it. We need more men who believe in feminism. I remember the first time in college feminism hit home for me was in a class called Feminist Literary Criticism. It was so fascinating, I thought it should be perceived as another philosophy to be added to the Philosophy canon and I wished all my male friends would take it.

he will be what will keep me from going to a theater to see the film.
the only nice thing i will say about him is he is out and about in nyc all the time, manages to not get papped, and waits in line like everyone else.

I’m going with ‘he’s joking’. Otherwise if true then that’ll be in the “that’s what she said then” basket at splitsville time.

I think you can be a feminist and a cheating a*hole. You can support the concepts of equal pay and rights for women. Is sexual monogamy a ‘right’ or just the right thing to do? Unless as others have said expectations or whatever are out on the table.

His list is the best I’ve ever read from these celebs. I read these lists in mags where they ask them to list things we don’t know about them, and many are so contrived from beginning to end or not funny when trying to be. But I found many things interesting that I didn’t know about him or cute. And, yes, it’s tongue in cheek when he says his wife says he’s the best lover. We all say that to our men.

I didn’t know you couldn’t be a feminist if you had a hard time with monogamy back when when he was a coward and didn’t know how to end his first marriage. He has never said he’s cheated on this wife but has no clue as to long-term marriage for the rest of his life. People who identify as feminists or supporting feminist rights are flawed people, not PC all the time or saints, just like every other human being on this planet. He believes in equal rights for women, etc. I don’t doubt his sincerity.

I still applaud his acting in the last segment of the trilogy he and Julie Delpy did. I can’t remember the name of the last one, but I was blown away by his acting, especially in certain pivotal scenes.

I think the same about their performance specially his. I think I have loved the three movies but the last one seems so intimate I really liked it. I heard they might have a fourth one. If he is a douche-bag in real life he is a great actor compared to other douche vibes like BCoop

No. He’s very smart and a New Yorker through and through, very into the arts, etc. He’s been honored by the New York Public Library for his work for them and co-founded some organizing awarding young writers. He’s been in a lot of plays. I guess I’ve seen him in interviews over the years and he’s not just some dumb actor with zero other interests but being a star. He has had two screenwriting Oscar nominations for co-writing two of the three movies from the Before Sunrise, etc., movies with Julie Delpy where every then years they have revisited their characters.

I’ve disliked him since he talked about Uma’s vagina to Howard Stern. But I was surprised by how funny and willing to play he was on Watch What Happen Live several months back. “25 Things” confirms he’s got a good sense of humor at least. I wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with a guy like him but I’d probably enjoy his company.

Being born and raised in the Princeton, NJ area, I ran into him frequently but didn’t know him personally because we didn’t go to the same high schools. He was an absolute *sweetheart*. Ever since he and Uma broke up, nothing but sewage out of his mouth….Um. dude. Yeh, you’re the best lover…cause you pay for her fancy car, house, designer clothes, vacations, mani-pedis,….shall I go on? Grrrr….

The fact that he still has a career and is coming out in this amazing new movie is proof that white men can do no wrong in Hollywood. If he were black or a woman his career would have been over right after the first (of many) flops he’s made or after his first offensive interview. NO ONE likes him! Even Kaiser who just wants to sleep with him